Valve mechanism for tube-type fluid container

ABSTRACT

A valve mechanism adapted for a fluid-discharging port of a tube-type fluid container includes: a valve seat portion having a valve seat surface with an opening for passing a fluid therethrough; a valve portion comprising a valve body having a shape corresponding to the valve seat surface with the opening, and a shaft connected to the valve body and extending downward from the valve body, and a valve support portion for elastically urging the valve body downward to close the opening. An annular convex portion is further formed between the valve seat surface and the valve body on the valve seat surface or the valve body for closing the opening with the valve body at the annular convex portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/619,205, filed Jul. 14, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a valve mechanism, particularly to avalve mechanism which can be used for a tube-type fluid container.Further, the present invention relates to a tube-type fluid containerstoring a fluid inside it.

2. Description of the Related Art

A valve mechanism as described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No.2001-179139 has a spherical valve body and a spring for giving momentumto the valve body toward a valve seat has been used. Manufacturing costsof the valve mechanism using the spherical valve body and the spring,however, tend to be high.

A valve mechanism having a resinous valve seat, and a resinous valvebody which moves between a closed position in which the valve bodycontacts the valve seat and an open position in which the valve bodyseparates from the valve seat is commonly used.

In the resinous valve mechanism, it is preferred that the valvemechanism has a simple configuration which can close a fluid flowreliably. Additionally, it is preferred that the configuration can altera flow rate of the fluid passing through the valve mechanismdiscretionally according to a pressure applied to the fluid. As mattersstand, however, a valve mechanism satisfying these requirements is notreported.

On the other hand, regarding the above type of tubular container,replacing conventional tubes comprising a metal or analuminum-foil-laminated material, tubes comprising a synthetic resinalone or a lamination of a synthetic resin and aluminum (In thisspecification, these are named generically as “synthetic-resin-made”.)have been used.

In the case of a tube-type container using a synthetic-resin-made tube,because these synthetic-resin-made tubes have an elasticity recoveringforce, the following problem occurs: When a pressure is removed after afluid is discharged by applying the pressure to the tube, the air flowsback from an opening portion for discharging the fluid to the fluidstoring portion by the elasticity recovering force of the tube,deteriorating the quality of the fluid stored in the fluid storingportion.

For this reason, a tube-type container, in which a tabular valve body isprovided in an opening portion for discharging the fluid and the openingportion is closed by this valve body when the original shape of the tubeis restored by its elasticity, has been proposed (e.g. in JapanesePatent Laid-open No. 1995-112749, Japanese Patent Laid-open No.1998-157751, Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. 1984-26748, etc.).

In a conventional tube-type container in which the above-mentionedtabular valve body is provided, if the tube recovers its original shapeby its elasticity slowly, the valve body fails to close the openingportion of the tube-type container and the air may flow back to thefluid storing portion.

Additionally, the conventional tube-type container in which theabove-mentioned tabular valve body is provided has a problem that itsdurability is low.

Regarding the tube-type container described in Japanese Patent Laid-openNo. 1998-157751, as the content is discharged, a shape of the containeris changed gradually. Consequently, as the content remaining in thetube-type container is reduced, a shape change of the containerincreases and it becomes harder to discharge the content from thetube-type container.

For this reason, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No.2000-109103 incorporated, a pneumatically pushed-out tube-typecontainer, which has a double construction dividing the inside of thecontainer into a content chamber and an air chamber is proposed. In thiscontainer construction, the content chamber communicates with theoutside at its discharge port of the container and the air chamber has avalve construction portion at its bottom, which shuts off the airchamber to prevent the air inside the air chamber from flowing outwardwhen a pressure is applied to the container by pressing down the bodyportion of the container. Through the valve construction portion, theair chamber communicates with the outside.

The tube-type container described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No.2000-109103, however, can be used only with high-viscosity contents,because it does not possess a valve mechanism at its discharge port. Ifa low-viscosity fluid is stored in this tube-type container, there is aproblem that the air flows back into the container from the dischargeport of the container, lowering the quality of the fluid stored in thecontainer.

Additionally, for the tube-type container described in Japanese PatentLaid-open No. 2000-109103, a valve mechanism needs to be provided in theair chamber. The valve mechanism, however, is generally expensive andincreases the manufacturing costs of the tube-type container whichshould be manufactured inexpensively because it is disposable undernormal conditions.

Furthermore, the tube-type container described in Japanese PatentLaid-open No. 2000-109103 has a construction including an air chamber atits body portion of the tube-type container, and a valve constructionportion needs to be provided in the body portion. It is difficult,however, to manufacture a tube-type container with a valve constructionportion provided at its body portion. Additionally, there is a problemthat welding cannot be done satisfactorily due to the valve constructionportion when attempting welding the bottom portion of the tube-typecontainer.

The present invention is achieved to solve the above-mentioned problemsand aims to provide a tube-type fluid container which prevents the airfrom flowing back into the container from the discharge port of thecontainer and which can discharge the content easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. It aims toprovide a valve mechanism which can close a fluid reliably while itsconfiguration is simple and which can alter a flow rate of the fluidpassing through the valve mechanism discretionally according to apressure applied to the fluid.

The present invention includes, but is not limited to, the followingembodiments. Solely for the sake of understanding some embodiments ofthe present invention easily, reference numerals used in the figuresexplained later are referred to. However, the present invention is notlimited to the structures defined by these reference numerals, and anysuitable combination of elements indicated by these reference numeralscan be accomplished.

In an embodiment, a valve mechanism (e.g., 3, 10) adapted for afluid-discharging port (e.g., 12, 441) of a tube-type fluid containermay comprise: a valve seat portion (e.g., 40, 331) having an opening(e.g., 41, 326) through which a fluid flows; a valve portion (e.g., 20)comprising a valve body (e.g., 21) having a shape corresponding to theopening, and a shaft (e.g., 22) connected to the valve body andextending downward from the valve body; and a valve support portion(e.g., 30) comprising: (i) a bottom plate (e.g., 39, 332) to which a tipof the shaft is connected; (ii) an annular support (e.g., 31, 232)fixedly connected to the valve seat portion; and (iii) multipleconnectors (e.g., 32, 236) connecting the bottom plate and the annularsupport, the connectors elastically urging the bottom plate downward toclose the opening with the valve body and being bendable as the bottomplate moves upward and pushes the valve portion to open the opening. Thebottom plate may be integrated with the shaft as shown in FIG. 2(A).

In an embodiment, the multiple connectors may be composed of three ormore connectors.

In another embodiment, the multiple connectors may have flexions (e.g.,36, 237).

In the above, a convex portion (e.g., 42) facing toward the valve bodymay be formed in a portion in the opening, which convex portion contactsthe valve body when the valve body closes the opening.

In another embodiment, a convex portion (e.g., 24) facing toward theopening may be formed in a portion in the valve body, which convexportion contacts the valve seat portion when the valve body closes theopening.

In an embodiment, the valve portion may comprise a guide portion (e.g.,323) disposed on the side opposite to the shaft, and the valve mechanismmay comprise a supporting body (e.g., 340) comprising (a) an openingportion (e.g., 345) for discharging a fluid and (b) a guide material(e.g., 325) guiding the guide portion.

In the above, the guide material may comprise multiple ribs (e.g., 341)contacting the outer circumferential surface of said guide portion.

Further, the valve seat portion may contact both of the bottom surface(e.g., 324) and the end surface (e.g., 25) of the valve body in aposition in which the valve body closes the opening.

In an embodiment, a tube-type fluid container may comprise a tubularcontainer main unit (e.g., 1, 140), at one end of which afluid-discharging port (e.g., 12, 441) is formed, and the valvemechanism (e.g., 3, 10) as described above.

In the above, the container main unit may comprise (A) an internalcontainer (e.g., 442) storing a fluid, and (B) an external container(e.g., 443) which is composed of a material having an elasticityrecovering force and encompasses the internal container in such a waythat an interior space (e.g., 444) shut off from the outside is formedbetween the external container and the internal container, and in whicha hole (e.g., 149) communicating with the interior space and the outsideis formed.

Further, the hole formed in the external container may have a size whichcan let a small amount of air through.

Furthermore, the hole formed in the external container may be formed ina portion to which a pressure is applied when the fluid is discharged.

In addition, opening portions (e.g., 148) of the internal container andof the external container may be connected to each other at thefluid-discharging port, and the internal container and the externalcontainer are welded at their bottoms (e.g., 147).

In an embodiment, a tube-type fluid container may comprise a tubularcontainer main unit (e.g., 140), at one end of which a fluid-dischargingport (e.g., 441) is formed, and a valve mechanism (e.g., 3, 10) disposedat the fluid-discharging port, wherein the container main unit comprises(A) an internal container (e.g., 442) storing a fluid, and (B) anexternal container (e.g., 443) which is composed of a material having anelasticity recovering force and encompasses the internal container insuch a way that an interior space (e.g., 444) shut off from the outsideis formed between the external container and the internal container, andin which a hole (e.g., 149) communicating with the interior space andthe outside is formed.

In the above, the fluid can be discharged from an outlet of the mouthportion of the container through the valve mechanism by pressing thecontainer, wherein the connectors and the container are deformed. Whenreleasing the pressure, both the deformed connectors and the deformedcontainer begin restoring the shapes. The restoring force of thecontainer causes the inner pressure to lower, thereby generating reverseflow which facilitates restoration of the connectors to close theopening of the valve seat portion, thereby effectively preventing airfrom coming into the container through the outlet of the mouth portion.Thus, even if the restoring force of the connectors themselves is notsufficient to close the opening of the valve seat portion, the outlet ofthe mouth portion can effectively be closed in combination with therestoring force of the container. Thus, even if the fluid is veryviscous, the valve mechanism in combination with the container candischarge the fluid and then seal the container.

In an embodiment, a valve (e.g., 3, 10) may comprise: a seat (e.g., 40,331) having an opening (e.g., 41, 326) through which a fluid may flow; aseal (e.g., 20) comprising a body (e.g., 21) having a shapecorresponding to the opening; and a support (e.g., 30) for coupling theseal to the seat, the support comprising multiple elastically deformableconnectors (e.g., 32, 236), the connectors producing a biasing forcethat causes the seal to substantially close the opening; wherein theconnectors are adapted to elastically deform in response to a fluidpressure on the seal that overcomes the biasing force so as to permitthe flow of fluid through the opening.

In the above, the opening may comprise a first ledge (e.g., 45), theseat may comprise a second ledge (e.g., 23), the second ledge may sit onthe first ledge when the opening is closed by the biasing force.

Further, at least one of the first ledge and the second ledge maycomprise at least one tab (e.g., 24, 42).

In the above, in the event that the restoring force of the container isexcessive (depending on the viscosity of the fluid and the amount of thefluid remaining in the container, etc., in addition to the elasticitycharacteristics of the container itself), the reverse flow is strong andfast, and the connectors may not be restored so quickly that it isdifficult to prevent air from coming into the container from the outletof the mouth portion through the opening of the valve seat portion. Inthat case, by using a double wall container, the restoring force can becontrolled so that intensity of the reverse flow can be controlled toprevent air from coming into the container.

That is, when configuring the container body to be a double wallcontainer, despite its simple configuration, reverse flow of air fromthe discharge port (or the mouth) of the container into the containercan be prevented and the content can be discharged easily even when anamount of the content is reduced. When forming the through-hole in theouter container in a size which can let a small amount of air through,an amount of air outflow from the inner container to the outside can becontrolled to be small, enabling to apply appropriate pressure to thefluid inside the inner container because certain pressure between theinner container and the outer container can be maintained when the outercontainer is pressed. When forming the through-hole in a portion towhich a pressure is applied when the fluid is discharged, an amount ofair outflow from the inner container to the outside can be controlled tobe small when the outer container is pressed, enabling to apply anappropriate pressure to the fluid inside the inner container. Whenintegrating the inner container and the outer container at the mouthportion and welding them at their bottom, manufacturing a tube-typefluid container at low costs becomes possible.

Additionally, in a double wall container, restoring force of an innercontainer may be lower than that of a single wall container, and thus,after connectors are at a closed position, the pressure inside the innercontainer may remain moderately lower than the ambient pressure, so thatsuction force at the outlet may not be significant. In that case, it ispossible to effectively prevent air from coming into the container.Further, in a double wall container, an outer container can be restoredmore than an inner container, and an air layer is formed between theinner container and the outer container. When restricting the flow ofair released from the air layer through a through-hole or though-holes,it is possible to exert pressure on the inner container from the outercontainer via the air layer. Thus, even if the amount of the fluidcontained in the inner container is low and thus, the inner container isnearly flat, by pressing the outer container which has been restored tothe original shape, it is possible to exert pressure onto the innercontainer, thereby easily discharging the fluid. Accordingly, waste ofthe fluid remaining inside the inner container can be minimized.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achievedover the related art, certain objects and advantages of the inventionhave been described above. Of course, it is to be understood that notnecessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordancewith any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example,those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may beembodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes oneadvantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarilyachieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggestedherein.

Further aspects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodimentswhich follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will now be described withreference to the drawings of preferred embodiments which are intended toillustrate and not to limit the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal section of the tube-type fluidcontainer according to the Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) are longitudinal sections of the relevant part ofthe tube-type fluid container according to the Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the valve mechanism 3.

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the valve mechanism 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded longitudinal section of the tube-type fluidcontainer according to the Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded longitudinal section of the tube-type fluidcontainer according to the Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded explanatory view of a tube-type container to whichthe valve mechanism according to the present invention applies.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the relevant part of the tube-typecontainer to which the valve mechanism according to the presentinvention applies.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the relevant part of the tube-typecontainer to which the valve mechanism according to the presentinvention applies.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of the valve material 20 constitutingthe valve mechanism 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the valve material 20 constituting the valvemechanism 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a lateral view of the coupling material 30 constituting thevalve mechanism 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal section of the coupling material 30constituting the valve mechanism 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the coupling material 30 constituting thevalve mechanism 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal section of the valve seat material 40constituting the valve mechanism 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal section of the valve material 20 according toan alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded explanatory view of a tube-type container towhich the valve mechanism according to the present invention applies.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of the relevant part of the tube-typecontainer to which the valve mechanism according to the presentinvention applies.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the relevant part of the tube-typecontainer to which the valve mechanism according to the presentinvention applies.

FIG. 20(A) is a plan view of the valve mechanism 10 according to thepresent invention; FIG. 20(B) is a longitudinal section showing the A-Asection in FIG. 20(A).

FIG. 21(A) is a plan view of the valve material 20 constituting thevalve mechanism 10 according to the present invention; FIG. 21(B) is alongitudinal section showing the A′-A′ section in FIG. 21(A).

FIG. 22(A) is a plan view of the valve seat material 330 constitutingthe valve mechanism 10 according to the present invention; FIG. 22(B) isa longitudinal section showing the B-B section in FIG. 22(A).

FIG. 23(A) is a plan view of the supporting body 340 constituting thevalve mechanism 10 according to the present invention; FIG. 23(B) is alongitudinal section showing the C-C section in FIG. 23(A).

FIG. 24 is a lateral view of an embodiment in which a groove portion 26is provided on the circumferential surface of the end surface 25 of thevalve body 21 in the valve material 20 constituting the valve mechanism10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a lateral view of an embodiment in which an O-ring 27 iscombined with the valve material 20 shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 shows a front view of the tube-type container according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 27 shows a longitudinal section of the tube-type containeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a lateral section showing a position before a pressure isapplied to the tube-type fluid container according to Embodiment 4 ofthe present invention, from which the lid material 110 is omitted.

FIG. 29 is a lateral section showing a position when a pressure isapplied to the tube-type fluid container according to Embodiment 4 ofthe present invention, from which the lid material 110 is omitted.

FIG. 30 is a lateral section showing a position when a shape of theexternal container 443 in the tube-type fluid container according toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention is restored, from which the lidmaterial 110 is omitted.

FIG. 31 is a front view of the tube-type fluid container according toEmbodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a lateral section showing the tube-type fluid containeraccording to Embodiment 5 of the present invention, from which the lidmaterial 110 is omitted.

FIG. 33 is a lateral section showing a position when a pressure isapplied to the tube-type fluid container according to Embodiment 5 ofthe present invention, from which the lid material 110 is omitted.

FIG. 34 is a lateral section showing a position when a shape of theexternal container 443 in the tube-type fluid container according toEmbodiment 5 of the present invention is restored, from which the lidmaterial 110 is omitted.

FIG. 35 shows an enlarged view showing the valve mechanism 10 in thetube-type fluid container according to Embodiment 4 of the presentinvention along with the top of the container main unit 140.

FIG. 36 shows an enlarged view showing the valve mechanism 10 in thetube-type fluid container according to Embodiment 4 of the presentinvention along with the top of the container main unit 140.

FIG. 37 (A) is a bottom view of the valve material 20′ according to analternative embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 37(B) is alongitudinal section showing the A″-A″ section in FIG. 37(A).

FIG. 38(A) is a plan view of the valve seat material 330′ constitutingthe valve mechanism 10 according to an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention; FIG. 38(B) is a longitudinal section showing the D-Dsection in FIG. 38(A).

FIGS. 39(A) and 39(B) are longitudinal sections of the relevant part ofthe tube-type fluid container according to the other embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 40(A) and 40(B) are longitudinal sections of the relevant part ofthe tube-type fluid container according to the other embodiment of thepresent invention.

Explanation of symbols used is as follows: 1: Container main unit; 2:Lid material; 3: Valve mechanism; 4: Lid material; 5: Lid material; 10:Valve mechanism; 11: Fluid storing portion; 12: Discharge port; 13:Flange portion; 14: Male screw portion; 20: Valve material; 20′: Valvematerial; 21: Valve body; 22: Engaging portion; 23: Inclined plane; 24:Convex portion; 25: End surface; 26: Groove portion; 27: O-ring; 30:Coupling material; 31: Valve seat material supporting portion; 32:Coupling portion; 33: Valve material supporting portion; 35: Engaginggroove; 36: Flexions; 37: Concave portion; 38: Groove portion; 39:Bottom plate; 40: Valve seat material; 41: Opening portion; 42: Convexportion; 43: Engaging portion; 44: Convex portion; 45: Inclined plane;51: Base portion; 52: Upper lid; 53: Female screw portion; 54: Dischargeport; 110: Lid material; 111: Lid body; 115: Female screw portion; 140:Container main unit; 141: Opening portion; 142: Fluid storing portion;143: Flange portion; 144: Male screw portion; 145: Internal containeropening portion; 146: External container opening portion; 147: Weldingportion on the bottom side; 148: Welding portion on the discharge portside; 149: Hole; 150: Flange portion; 151: Male screw portion; 221:Outer lid portion; 222: Female screw portion; 231: Opening portion; 232:Supporting portion; 233: Valve portion; 234: First connection portion;235: Second connection portion; 236: Coupling portion; 237: Flexions;238: groove portion; 241: Discharge port; 242: Female screw portion;323: Guide portion; 324: Under surface; 325: Guide material; 326:Opening; 327: Reinforcing ring; 330: Valve seat material; 330′: Valveseat material; 331: Valve seat portion; 332: Valve material supportingportion; 333: Coupling portion; 334: Level surface; 335: Verticalsurface; 337: Convex portion; 338: Opening portion; 339: Groove portion;340: Supporting body; 341: Rib; 342: Guide path; 343: Female screwportion; 344: Concave portion; 345: Opening portion; 415: Female screwportion; 441: Discharge port; 442: Internal container; 443: Externalcontainer; 444: Internal space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described withreferent to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to theembodiments.

A first example is a tube-type fluid container having a tubularcontainer main unit at one end of which a fluid discharge port is formedand a valve mechanism set up at said discharge port, which ischaracterized in that said valve mechanism possesses a supportingportion at the center of which an opening portion constituting a valveseat is formed and which has a nearly tubular shape installable at saiddischarge port; a valve portion which can contact an area in which saidopening portion in said supporting portion is formed from the oppositeside to said container main unit; a connection portion set up bystanding it in said valve portion on the side of said container mainunit; multiple coupling portions for giving momentum to said valveportion toward said opening portion by coupling said supporting portionand said connection portion with an elastic force.

A second example is the tube-type fluid container as described in thefirst example, wherein said supporting portion and said valve portion insaid valve mechanism are coupled by three or more coupling portions setup at even intervals.

A third example is the tube-type fluid container as described in thesecond example 2, wherein said coupling portions in said valve mechanismhave flexions.

A fourth example is a valve mechanism which possesses a valve materialhaving a valve seat material in which a circular opening portionfunctioning as a valve seat is formed, a valve body having a shapecorresponding to said circular opening portion and an engaging portionset up by standing it, and a coupling material having a valve seatmaterial supporting portion which supports said valve seat material, avalve material supporting portion which supports the engaging portion ofsaid valve material, and multiple coupling portion having flexibilitywhich couple said valve seat material supporting portion and said valvematerial supporting portion; which is characterized in that by theflexibility of said multiple coupling portions, said valve material isconstructed to move between a closed position in which the valve body inthe valve material closes the opening portion in said valve seatmaterial and an open position in which the valve body opens said openingportion.

A fifth example is the valve mechanism as described in the fourthexample, wherein said coupling material has three or more couplingportions.

A sixth example is the valve mechanism as described in the fourth orfifth example, wherein said coupling portions have flexions.

A seventh example is the valve mechanism as described in any one of thefourth to sixth examples, wherein a ring-shaped convex portion facingtoward said valve body is formed in a portion in said opening portion,which contacts said valve body.

An eighth example is the valve mechanism as described in any one of thefourth to sixth examples, wherein a ring-shaped convex portion facingtoward said opening portion is formed in a portion in said valve body,which contacts said opening portion.

A ninth example is a valve mechanism which possesses a valve materialpossessing a valve body, an engaging portion set up by standing it inthe valve body and a guide portion set up by standing it on the sideopposite to said engaging portion in the valve body, a valve seatmaterial possessing a valve seat portion which has a circular openingportion functioning as a valve seat for said valve body, a valvematerial supporting portion which engages with said engaging portion andmultiple coupling portions having flexibility which couple said valveseat portion and said valve material supporting portion, and asupporting body possessing an opening portion for discharging a fluidand a guide material guiding said guide portion; which is characterizedin that said valve material is constructed to be able to move between aclosed position in which said valve body in the valve material closesthe opening portion in said valve seat material and an open position inwhich said valve body opens said opening portion by the flexibility ofsaid multiple coupling portions.

A tenth example is the valve mechanism as described in the ninthexample, wherein said guide material comprises multiple ribs contactingthe outer circumferential surface of said guide portion.

An eleventh example is the valve mechanism as described in the ninth ortenth example, wherein said valve seat portion contacts the bottomsurface and the end surface of said valve body in a position in whichsaid valve material is positioned in said closed position.

A twelfth example is the valve mechanism as described in any one of theninth to eleventh examples, wherein said valve seat material has threeor more coupling portions.

A thirteenth example is the valve mechanism as described in any one ofthe ninth to twelfth examples, wherein said coupling portions haveflexions.

A fourteenth example is a tube-type fluid container having a tubularcontainer main unit, at one end of which a fluid discharge port isformed, and a valve mechanism set up at said discharge port, which ischaracterized in that said container main unit possesses an internalcontainer storing a fluid, an external container which comprises amaterial having an elasticity recovering force and encompasses saidinternal container in such a way that an interior space shut off fromthe outside is formed between the external container and internalcontainer, and in which a hole communicating with said interior spaceand the outside is formed.

A fifteenth example is the tube-type fluid container as described in thefourteenth example, wherein the hole formed in said external containerhas a size which can let a small amount of air through.

A sixteenth example is the tube-type fluid container as described in thefourteenth example, wherein the hole formed in said external containeris formed in a portion to which a pressure is applied when the fluid isdischarged.

A seventeenth example is the tube-type fluid container as described inany one of the fourteenth to sixteenth examples, wherein the openingportions of said internal container and of said external container areconnected each other at the discharge port portion of said containermain unit, and said internal container and said external container arewelded at their bottoms.

FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal section of the tube-type fluidcontainer according to the Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 2is a longitudinal section of the relevant part of the tube-type fluidcontainer according to the Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

This tube-type container is used as a container for beauty products forstoring gels such as hair gels and cleansing gels or creams such asnourishing creams and cold creams used in the cosmetic field.Additionally, this tube-type container also can be used as a containerfor medicines, solvents or foods, etc. In this specification, regularliquids, high-viscosity liquids, semifluids, or gels that sol solidifiesto a jelly, and creams are all referred to as fluids.

This tube-type fluid container comprises a container main unit 1, a lidmaterial 2 and a valve mechanism 3.

The above-mentioned container main unit 1 possesses a tubular fluidstoring portion 11 for storing a fluid inside it, a fluid discharge port12 formed at one end of the fluid storing portion 11, a flange portion13 formed in the vicinity of the upper end of the discharge port 12, anda male screw portion 14 formed on the outside of the discharge port 11.This container main unit 1 comprises a synthetic resin alone or alamination of a synthetic resin and aluminum and has an elasticityrecovering force which tries to recover its original shape when apressure applied to it is removed.

The above-mentioned lid material 2 has an outer lid portion 221 and afemale screw portion 222 formed inside the lid material 2. Thistube-type fluid container is constructed such a way that the dischargeport 12 of the container main unit 1 is closed with the female screwportion 222 engaging with the male screw portion 14 in the containermain unit 1.

A construction of the above-mentioned valve mechanism 3 is describedbelow. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the valve mechanism 3; FIG. 4 is alateral view of the valve mechanism 3. In FIG. 3, a valve portion 233and the first connection portion 234 are not included.

In reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, this valve mechanism 3 possesses asupporting portion 232 having a nearly tubular shape, at the center ofwhich an opening portion 231 (See FIG. 2.) constituting a valve portionis formed, the valve portion 233 which can contact an area in which theopening portion 231 in the supporting portion 232 is formed from theopposite side to the container main unit 1, the first connection portion234 set up by standing it in the valve portion on the side of thecontainer main unit 1, the second connection portion 235 having a nearlyT-shaped section, which is coupled with the first connecting portion,and four coupling portions 236 for giving momentum to the valve portion233 toward the opening portion 231 constituting a valve seat by couplingthe supporting portion 232 and the second connection portion 235 with anelastic force.

The four coupling portions 236 are set up at even intervals.Additionally, these coupling portions 236 respectively have flexions 237in two places.

On the outer circumferential surface of the supporting portion 232, agroove portion 238 (See FIG. 4.) which can engage with the flangeportion 13 in the container main unit 1 is formed. Consequently, thevalve mechanism 3 is installed at the discharge port 12 in the containermain unit 1 using this groove portion 238 as shown in FIG. 4.

Additionally, the above-mentioned supporting portion 232, the first andthe second connection portions 234 and 235 and the coupling portions 236are produced by injection molding using synthetic resin such aspolyethylene and polypropylene, synthetic rubber such as silicon rubberor a mixture of these materials. The supporting portion 232, thecoupling portions 236 and the second connection portion 235, and thevalve portion 233 and the first connection portion 234 are respectivelymolded separately and are coupled with each other.

In the tube-type container having the above-mentioned construction, whena fluid is discharged from inside the container main unit 1, a pressureis applied to the fluid inside the fluid storing portion 11 by pressingthe fluid storing portion 11. As shown in FIG. 2 (B), being pressurizedby the fluid and resisting the elasticity of the coupling portions 236,the valve portion 233 separates from the supporting portion 232 in whichthe opening portion 231 constituting the valve seat is formed; the fluidinside the fluid storing portion 11 is discharged outward after passingthrough the opening portion 231.

When the pressure applied to the fluid storing portion 11 is removedafter a necessary amount of fluid is discharged, the fluid inside thefluid storing portion 11 is depressurized by the elasticity recoveringforce of the container main unit 1; the air tries to flow back towardthe fluid storing portion 11 from the opening portion 23 1.

In this tube-type container, however, as soon as the fluid inside thefluid storing portion 11 is depressurized, the valve portion 233instantaneously contacts the supporting portion 232 in which the openingportion 231 constituting the valve seat is formed by the action of thecoupling portions 236 as shown in FIG. 2(A); the opening portion 231comprising a fluid flow path is closed. Consequently, the reverse flowof the air can be prevented effectively.

At this time, in the valve mechanism 3 according to this embodiment, asa travel distance of the valve body 233 is changed according to apressure applied to the fluid storing portion 11, i.e. a pressureapplied to the valve mechanism 3, it becomes possible to change a flowrate of the fluid passing through the opening portion 231. Consequently,when a regular liquid is used as a fluid, discharging the liquid by aspecific amount also becomes possible by applying a small pressure tothe liquid inside the fluid storing portion I 1.

In the valve mechanism 3 according to this embodiment, the top surfaceof the valve portion 233 in the valve mechanism 3 is set up at aposition close to the top surface of the flange portion 13 in thecontainer main unit 1. Consequently, it becomes possible to minimize anamount of the fluid remaining inside the opening portion 231 in thecontainer main unit 1 after fluid discharge motions are completed.

Furthermore, in this valve mechanism 3, four coupling portions 236,which couple the supporting portion 232 and the valve body 233,respectively have a pair of flexions 237. Consequently, these couplingportions 236 have adequate elasticity; it becomes possible for the valvebody 233 to reciprocate smoothly between the closed position and theopen position.

A construction of a tube-type fluid container according to anotherembodiment of the present invention is described below. FIG. 5 is anexploded longitudinal section of the tube-type fluid container accordingto the Embodiment 2.

In the above-mentioned tube-type container according to the Embodiment1, the lid material 2 having a construction in which with the femalescrew portion 222 of the lid material screwing together with the malescrew portion 14 in the container main unit, the discharge port 12 ofthe container main unit 1 is closed, is used. In this Embodiment 2, alid material 4 having a fluid discharge port 241 at its end is used. Thefluid container according to the Embodiment 2 has a construction inwhich a discharge port 12 of the container main unit 1 and the dischargeport 241 of the lid material 4 are communicated with the female screwportion 242 of the fluid container screwing together with the male screwportion 14 of the container main unit 1.

A construction of the tube-type fluid container according to the thirdaspect of the present invention is described below. FIG. 6 is anexploded longitudinal section of the tube-type fluid container accordingto the Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

In this tube-type fluid container according to the Embodiment 3, a lidmaterial 5 comprising a base portion 51 possessing a fluid dischargeport 53 at its center and an upper lid 52 which can hinge with the baseportion 51 is used. This tube-type fluid container according to theEmbodiment 3 has a construction in which a discharge port 12 of thecontainer main unit 1 and the discharge port 54 of the lid material 5are communicated with the female screw portion 53 of the fluid containerscrewing together with the male screw portion 14 of the container mainunit 1. Additionally, in this tube-type fluid container according to theEmbodiment 3, by causing the upper lid 52 to hinge with the base portion51, it becomes possible to open/close the discharge port 54 of the lidmaterial 5.

In any one of the above-mentioned embodiments, although the supportingportion 232 and the second connection portion 235 are coupled by fourcoupling portions 236 which are set up at even intervals, the number ofcoupling portions 236 is not limited to four. If the supporting portion232 and the second connection portion 235 are coupled by three or morecoupling portions which are set up at even intervals, it becomespossible to prevent occurrence of an inappropriate tilt in the valveportion 232.

In any one of the above-mentioned embodiments, the upper end of thesupporting portion 232 in the valve mechanism 3 is set up at nearly thesame position as the position of the upper end of the discharge port 12in the container main unit 2, and an inside diameter of the openingportion 231 in the valve mechanism 3 is set to be nearly the same as aninside diameter of the discharge portion 12 in the container main unit1. It is acceptable, however, that the supporting portion 232 has, forexample, similarly to the shape of the lid material 4 shown in FIG. 5, anozzle shape in which the opening portion of the supporting portionbecomes smaller as it goes upward and the valve portion is contactedwith the upper end of the nozzle-shaped opening portion having a smallerinside diameter.

According to the invention described in the first aspect, because thevalve mechanism possesses the supporting portion at the center of whichthe opening portion constituting a valve seat is formed and which has anearly tubular shape installable at the discharge port; the valveportion which can contact an area in which the opening portion in thesupporting portion is formed from the opposite side to the containermain unit; the connection portion set up by standing it in the valveportion on the side of the container main unit; multiple couplingportions for giving momentum to the valve portion toward the openingportion by coupling the supporting portion and the connection portionwith an elastic force, it becomes possible to prevent the reverse flowof the air reliably while its construction is simple and excellentdurability is provided as well.

According to the invention described in the second aspect, because thesupporting portion and the valve portion in the valve mechanism arecoupled by three or more coupling portions which are set up at evenintervals, it becomes possible to prevent occurrence of an inappropriatetilt in the valve body.

According to the invention described in the third aspect, because thecoupling portions in the valve mechanism have flexions, the couplingportions have more adequate elasticity recovering force, enabling thevalve body to move between the closed position and the open positionmore satisfactorily.

FIG. 7 is an exploded explanatory view of a tube-type container to whichthe valve mechanism according to the present invention applies. FIG. 8and FIG. 9 are enlarged views of the relevant part of the tube-typecontainer to which the valve mechanism according to the presentinvention applies.

This tube-type container is used as a container for beauty products forstoring gels such as hair gels and cleansing gels or creams such asnourishing creams and cold creams used in the cosmetic field.Additionally, this tube-type container also can be used as a containerfor medicines, solvents or foods, etc.

In this specification, regular liquids, high-viscosity liquids,semifluids, gels that sol solidifies to a jelly, and creams, are allreferred to as fluids. The present invention, however, is not limited toa valve mechanism used for the above-mentioned fluids and can apply to avalve mechanism used for the entire fluids including gases.

This tube-type container possesses a container main unit 140, a lidmaterial 110 which is installed at the top of the container main unit140 and a valve mechanism 10.

The container main unit 140 comprises a fluid storing portion 142 forstoring a fluid inside it, an opening portion 141 for discharging afluid, which is formed at one end of the fluid storing portion 142, aflange portion 143 (See FIG. 8 and FIG. 9) formed in the vicinity of theupper end of the opening portion 141, and a male screw portion 144formed on the outside of the opening portion 141. The above-mentionedflange portion 143 is constructed to be able to engage with an engaginggroove 35 in a coupling material 30 which is described later.Consequently, the valve mechanism 10 has a construction in which it isfixed inside the opening portion 141 in the container main unit 140 viathis engaging groove 35.

This container main unit 140 comprises a synthetic resin alone or alamination of a synthetic resin and aluminum, and has an elasticityrecovering force which tries to recover its original shape when apressure applied to it is removed.

The above-mentioned lid material 110 possesses a lid body 111 and afemale screw portion 115 formed at the center of the lid body 111. Thefemale screw portion 115 in the lid body 111 is constructed to screwtogether with the male screw portion 144 in the container main unit 140.

In the tube-type container having the above-mentioned construction, whena fluid is discharged from the container, a pressure is applied to thefluid inside the fluid storing portion 142 by pressing the fluid storingportion 142 in the container main unit 140. In this position, the valvemechanism 10 comprising the valve material 20, the coupling material 30and the valve seat material 40 is opened and the fluid inside the fluidstoring portion 142 is discharged outward via the opening portion 41 inthe valve mechanism 10 as shown in FIG. 9.

When the pressure applied to the fluid storing portion 142 is removedafter a necessary amount of the fluid is discharged, the fluid insidethe fluid storing portion 142 is depressurized by the elasticityrecovering force of the container main unit 140; the air tries to flowback toward the fluid storing portion 142 from the opening portion 141for discharging the fluid.

In this tube-type container, however, a fluid flow path is closed by theaction of the valve mechanism 10 comprising the valve material 20, thecoupling material 30 and the valve seat material 40. Consequently, thereverse flow of the air can be prevented effectively.

A construction of the valve mechanism 10 according to the presentinvention is described below. The valve mechanism 10 comprises the valvematerial 20, the coupling material 30 and the valve seat material 40.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of the valve material 20 constitutingthe valve mechanism 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is abottom view of the valve material 20 constituting the valve mechanism 10according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the valve material 20 has a valve body21 having a shape corresponding to the circular opening portion 41 inthe valve seat material 40 which is described later, and an engagingportion 22 set up by standing it.

FIG. 12 is a lateral view of the coupling material 30 constituting thevalve mechanism 10 according to the present invention; FIG. 13 is alongitudinal section of the coupling material 30 constituting the valvemechanism 10 according to the present invention; FIG. 14 is a bottomview of the coupling material 30 constituting the valve mechanism 10according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the coupling material 30 has avalve seat material supporting portion 31 which supports the valve seatmaterial 40 which is described later, a valve material supportingportion 33 which supports the engaging portion 22 of the valve material20, and four coupling portions 32 which couple the valve materialsupporting portion 31 and the valve material supporting portion 33. Onthe inner circumferential surface of the valve seat material supportingportion 31, a concave portion 37 is formed. Additionally, in the valvematerial supporting portion 33, a groove portion 38 which is shorterthan a length of the engaging portion 22 in the valve material 20 isformed. By inserting/fitting the engaging portion 22 into this grooveportion 38 after passing it through the opening portion 41 of the valveseat material 40 described later, the valve material 20 is fixed withthe coupling material 30. Additionally, the four coupling portions 32comprise flexible resin having a pair of flexions 36 respectively. Bythe flexibility of these coupling portions 32, the valve body 21 in thevalve material 20 is adapted to be able to move between a closedposition in which the valve body closes the opening portion 41 in thevalve seat material 40 described later and an open position in which thevalve body opens the opening portion 41.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal section of the valve seat material 40constituting the valve mechanism 10 according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 15, the valve seat material 40 has the circular opening41 and an engaging portion 43. The opening portion 41 functions as avalve seat for the valve body 21. An inclined plane 45 forming theopening portion 41 has an angle corresponding to an inclined plane 23(See FIG. 10.) of the valve body in the valve material 20. In thisinclined plane 45, a ring-shaped convex portion 42 is provided. Thisring-shaped convex portion 42 functions as a contact portion with thevalve body 21 in the opening portion 41. Consequently, even whenmanufacturing accuracy of each part of the valve mechanism 10deteriorates, the valve body 21 and the opening portion 41 can becontacted reliably; higher liquid tightness can be maintained ascompared with plane contact.

On the outer circumferential surface of the engaging portion 43, aconvex portion 44 is formed. Consequently, when this valve seat material40 is inserted in the coupling material 30, the valve seat material 40is fixed inside the coupling material 30 with the concave portion 37(See FIG. 13.) in the coupling material 30 and the convex portion 44 inthe valve seat material 40 contacting with each other as shown in FIG.7.

The valve material 20, the coupling material 30 and the valve seatmaterial 40 are produced by injection molding using synthetic resin suchas polyethylene as a material.

In the valve mechanism 10 having this construction, when a pressure isapplied to a fluid inside the fluid storing portion 142 by pressing thefluid storing portion 142 of the container main unit 140 as shown inFIG. 7, the valve body 21 in the valve material 20 moves to the openposition in which the valve body opens the opening portion 41 in thevalve seat material 40 as shown in FIG. 9. By this motion, a fluidpasses through the opening portion 41. When the pressure applied to thefluid storing portion 142 is removed, the valve body 21 in the valvematerial 20 moves to the closed position in which the valve body closesthe opening portion 41 in the valve seat material 40. By this, airintrusion into the fluid storing portion 142 from the opening portion 41can be prevented.

In this valve mechanism 10, because a travel distance of the valve body21 is changed according to a pressure applied to the fluid storingportion 142, i.e. a pressure applied to the valve mechanism 10, changinga flow rate of the fluid passing through the opening portion 41discretionally becomes possible. Consequently, when a regular liquid isused as a fluid, discharging the liquid drop by drop by applying a smallpressure to the liquid inside the fluid storing portion 142 becomespossible as well.

Additionally, because this valve mechanism 10 has a construction inwhich the valve body 21 is set up in the vicinity of the end of a flowpath of the fluid passing through inside the valve mechanism 10, itbecomes possible to minimize an amount of the fluid remaining in an areaon the outside of the valve body 21 inside the valve mechanism 10 (thearea on the opposite side of the container main unit) when the valvebody 21 moves to the closed position.

In this valve mechanism 10, the valve seat supporting portion 31 in thecoupling material 30 and the valve material supporting portion 33 arecoupled by four coupling portions 32; the coupling material 30 supportsthe valve material 20 and the valve seat material 40. Consequently,preventing occurrence of an inappropriate tilt in the valve body 21becomes possible. In this regard, to prevent occurrence of aninappropriate tilt in the valve body 21 effectively, providing three ormore coupling portions 32 is preferred and setting them up at evenintervals is preferred.

Additionally, in this valve mechanism 10, when the valve body 21 movesfrom the closed position to the open position, the engaging portion 22moves while being inserted the opening portion 41. When the valve body21 tilts inappropriately, the engaging portion 22 contacts the innerwalls of the valve seat material 40. Consequently, the valve body 21does not tilt further.

Furthermore, in this valve mechanism 10, four coupling portions 32 inthe coupling material 30 respectively have a pair of flexions 36.Consequently, these coupling portions have adequate elasticity, enablingthe valve body 21 in the valve material 20 to reciprocate smoothlybetween the closed position and the open position.

Additionally, it is preferred that a thickness of these couplingportions 32 is 1 mm or less; a thickness within the range of 0.3 mm to0.5 mm is more preferably. Additionally, a relation between a pressureapplied to the fluid inside the fluid storing portion 142 and adischarge amount of the fluid can be adjusted by changing a thickness, avertical length or a material (hardness) of these coupling portions 32.Or, the relation between a pressure applied to the fluid inside thefluid storing portion 142 and a discharge amount of the fluid also canbe adjusted by changing an elastic force by the coupling portions 32 bychanging a thickness or a width of the edge portion on the supportingportion 11 side of the coupling portions 32.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, a ring-shaped convex portion 42 isformed in the contact portion with the valve body 21 in the openingportion 41 of the valve seat material 40 so that the valve body 21 andthe inner walls of the valve seat material 40 can be contacted reliablyand higher liquid tightness can be maintained as compared with planecontact even when manufacturing accuracy of each part of the valvemechanism 10 has deteriorated. Additionally, in place of forming theconvex portion 42 in the valve seal material 40, as shown in FIG. 16,forming a ring-shaped convex portion 24 facing toward the openingportion 41 in the portion (the inclined plane 23) contacting the openingportion 41 in the valve body 21 can achieve the same effect.

According to the invention described in the fourth aspect, because theinvention possesses the valve material having the valve body which isconstructed to be able to move between the closed position in which thevalve body closes the opening portion in the valve seat material and theopen position in which the valve body opens the opening portion by theflexibility of multiple coupling portions, the fluid can be closedreliably while its construction is simple, and it becomes possible tochange a flow rate of the fluid passing through the inventiondiscretionally according to a pressure applied to it.

According to the invention described in the fifth aspect, because thevalve seat material supporting portion and the valve material supportingportion are coupled by three or more coupling portions, occurrence of aninappropriate tilt in the valve body can be prevented.

According to the invention described in the sixth aspect, because thecoupling portions have flexions, the coupling portions have an adequateelasticity recovering force, enabling the valve body to movesatisfactorily between the closed position and the open position.

According to the invention described in the seventh aspect, because thering-shaped convex portion facing toward the valve body is formed, thevalve body and the opening portion can be contacted reliably even whenmanufacturing accuracy of each part of the valve mechanism deteriorates,enabling to maintain higher liquid tightness as compared with planecontact.

According to the invention described in the eighth aspect, because thering-shaped convex portion facing toward the opening portion is formedin a portion in the valve body which contacts the opening portion, thevalve body and the opening portion can be contacted reliably even whenmanufacturing accuracy of each part of the valve mechanism deteriorates,enabling to maintain higher liquid tightness as compared with planecontact.

FIG. 17 is an exploded explanatory view of a tube-type container towhich the valve mechanism according to the present invention applies.FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are enlarged views of the relevant part of thetube-type container to which the valve mechanism according to thepresent invention applies.

This tube-type container is used as a container for beauty products forstoring gels such as hair gels and cleansing gels or creams such asnourishing creams and cold creams used in the cosmetic field.Additionally, this tube-type container also can be used as a containerfor medicines, solvents or foods, etc.

In this specification, regular liquids, high-viscosity liquids,semifluids, gels that sol solidifies to a jelly, and creams, are allreferred to as fluids. The present invention, however, is not limited toa valve mechanism used for the above-mentioned fluids and can apply to avalve mechanism used for the entire fluids including gases.

This tube-type container possesses a container main unit 140, a lidmaterial 110 which is installed at the top of the container main unit140 and a valve mechanism 10.

The container main unit 140 comprises a fluid storing portion 142 forstoring a fluid inside it, an opening portion 141 for discharging afluid, which is formed at one end of the fluid storing portion 142, anda male screw portion 144 formed on the outside of the opening portion141. The male screw portion 144 is constructed to be able to screwtogether with a female screw portion 343 in the supporting body 340which is described later. Consequently, the valve mechanism 10 has aconstruction in which it is fixed inside the opening portion 141 in thecontainer main unit 140 via this female screw portion 343.

This container main unit 140 comprises a synthetic resin alone or alamination of a synthetic resin and aluminum, and has an elasticityrecovering force which tries to recover its original shape when apressure applied to it is removed.

The above-mentioned lid material 110 is hinged on the supporting body340 so as to be able to move between a position in which the lidmaterial closes the opening portion 141 of the supporting body 340 inthe valve mechanism 10 and a position in which the lid material opensthe opening portion.

In the tube-type container having the above-mentioned construction, whena fluid is discharged from the container, a pressure is applied to thefluid inside the fluid storing portion 142 by pressing the fluid storingportion 142 in the container main unit 140. In this position, the valvemechanism 10 comprising the valve material 20, the valve seat material330 and the supporting body 340 is opened and the fluid inside the fluidstoring portion 142 is discharged outward via the opening portion 141 inthe valve mechanism 10 as shown in FIG. 19.

When the pressure applied to the fluid storing portion 142 is removedafter a necessary amount of the fluid is discharged, the fluid insidethe fluid storing portion 142 is depressurized by the elasticityrecovering force of the container main unit 140; the air tries to flowback toward the fluid storing portion 142 from the opening portion 141for discharging the fluid.

In this tube-type container, however, a flow path for the fluid isclosed by the action of the valve mechanism 10 comprising the valvematerial 20, the valve seat material 330 and the supporting body 340.Consequently, the reverse flow of the air can be prevented effectively.

A construction of the valve mechanism 10 according to the presentinvention is described below. FIG. 20(A) is a plan view of the valvemechanism 10 according to the present invention; FIG. 20(B) is alongitudinal section showing the A-A section of FIG. 20(A). As shown inFIG. 17, the valve mechanism 10 comprises the valve material 20, thevalve seat material 330 and the supporting body 340.

FIG. 21(A) is a plan view of the valve material 20 constituting thevalve mechanism 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 21(B) is alongitudinal section showing the A′-A′ section of FIG. 21(A).

As shown in FIG. 21, the valve material 20 possesses a valve body 21, anengaging portion 22 having a nearly cylindrical shape, which is set upby standing it in the valve body, and a guide portion 323 having anearly cylindrical shape, which is set up by standing it on the sideopposite to the engaging portion 22 in the valve body 21.

FIG. 22(A) is a plan view of the valve seat material 330 constitutingthe valve mechanism 10 according to the present invention; FIG. 22(B) isa longitudinal section showing the B-B section of FIG. 22(A).

As shown in FIG. 22, the valve seat material 330 possesses a valve seatportion 331 having a circular opening portion 338 which functions as avalve seat for the valve body 21 in the valve material 20, a valvematerial supporting portion 332 which engages with the engaging portion22 in the valve material 20, and four coupling portions 333 havingflexibility, which couple the valve portion 331 and the valve materialsupporting portion 332.

On the outer circumferential surface of the valve seat material 330, aconcave portion 337 is formed. Consequently, with this convex portion337 engaging with a concave portion 344 formed on the innercircumferential surface of the supporting body 340 described later, thevalve seat material 330 is fixed with the supporting body 340.Additionally, in the valve material supporting portion 332 in the valveseat material 330, a groove portion 339 is formed. By inserting/fittingthe engaging portion 22 in the valve material into this groove portion339, the valve material 20 and the valve seat material 330 are engaged.Additionally, the valve seat portion 331 has a level surface 334 and avertical surface 335 in its opening portion 338. When the valve material20 is positioned in a closed position in which the opening portion 338in the valve seat material 330 is closed, the under surface 324 of thevalve body 21 contacts the level surface 334 of the valve seat portion331 and the end surface 25 of the valve body 21 contacts the verticalsurface 335 of the valve seat portion 331.

The four coupling portions 333 comprise flexible resin having a pair offlexions 36 respectively. By the flexibility of these coupling portions333, the valve body 21 in the valve material 20 is adapted to be able tomove between the closed position in which the valve body closes theopening portion 338 in the valve seat material 330 and an open positionin which the valve body opens the opening portion 338.

FIG. 23(A) is a plan view of the supporting body 340 constituting thevalve mechanism 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 23(B) is alongitudinal section showing the C-C section of FIG. 23(A).

The supporting body 340 possesses an opening portion 345 for letting thefluid passing through the above-mentioned opening portion 338 flowoutwardly, and four ribs 341 provided at the opening portion 345. Thefour ribs are set up inside the opening portion 345 at even intervals,forming a guide path 342.

Inside the supporting body 340, a cylindrical hollow portion is formed.Additionally, inside this hollow portion, the supporting body 340possesses a female screw portion 343 which can screw together with amale screw portion 144 in the container main unit 140 and a concaveportion 344 (See FIG. 20.) which can engage with the convex portion 337in the valve seat material 330. Consequently, by inserting the valveseat material 330 which is engaged with the valve material 20 inside thesupport body 340, the valve material 20, the valve seat material 330 andthe supporting body 340 are engaged. At this time, the guide portion 323in the valve material 20 is engaged while being inserted in the guidepath 342 surrounded by the four ribs 341.

The valve mechanism 10 being engaged in this manner is fixed inside theopening portion 141 in the container main unit 140 with the female screwportion 343 in the supporting body 340 and the male screw portion 144formed in the container main unit 140 being screwed together and engagedwith each other.

The valve material 20, the valve seat material 330 and the supportingbody 340 are produced by injection molding, etc. using synthetic resinsuch as polyethylene, synthetic rubber such as silicon rubber or amixture of these materials as a material.

In this valve mechanism 10, when a pressure is applied to a fluid insidethe fluid storing portion 142 by pressing the fluid storing portion 142of the container main unit 140 shown in FIG. 17, the valve body 21 inthe valve material 20 moves to the open position in which the valve bodyopens the opening portion 338 in the supporting body 340 as shown inFIG. 19. By this motion, the fluid passes through the opening portion338. When the pressure applied to the fluid storing portion 142 isremoved, the valve body 21 in the valve material 20 moves to the closedposition in which the valve body closes the opening portion 338 in thesupporting body 340 by the elasticity recovering force of the fourcoupling portions 333. By this, air intrusion into the fluid storingportion 142 from the opening portion 338 can be prevented.

In this valve mechanism lo, because a travel distance of the valve body21 is changed according to a pressure applied to the fluid storingportion 142, i.e. a pressure applied to the valve mechanism 10, changinga flow rate of the fluid passing through the opening portion 338discretionally becomes possible. Consequently, when a regular liquid isused as a fluid, discharging the liquid drop by drop by applying a smallpressure to the liquid inside the fluid storing portion 142 becomespossible as well. Additionally, because the valve seat portion 331 hasthe level surface 334 and the vertical surface 335 in its openingportion 338, the valve body 21 moves according to a pressure applied tothe valve mechanism 10; even in a position in which the under surface324 of the valve body 21 does not contact the level surface 334 of thevalve seat portion 331, the fluid cannot pass through as long as the endsurface 25 of the valve body 21 contacts the vertical surface 335 of thevalve seat portion 331. Consequently, unless a pressure above a certainlevel is applied to the fluid storing portion 142, it becomes possibleto prevent fluid leakage from the opening portion 338.

In this valve mechanism 10, the valve seat supporting portion 331 andthe valve material supporting portion 332 in the valve seat material 330are coupled by four coupling portions 333. Consequently, it becomespossible to prevent occurrence of an inappropriate tilt in the valvebody 21. Additionally, to prevent occurrence of an inappropriate tilt inthe valve body 21, it is preferred to provide three or more couplingportions 333 and it is preferred to set them up at even intervals.

Additionally, in this valve mechanism 10, when the valve body 21 movesbetween the closed position and the open position, the guide portion 323moves while being inserted in the guide path 342 surrounded by four ribs341. When an inappropriate tilt occurs in the valve body 21, therefore,the guide portion 323 is to contact the ribs 341. Consequently, thevalve body 21 does not tilt further.

Furthermore, in this valve mechanism 10, four coupling portions 333 inthe valve seat material 330 respectively have a pair of flexions 36.Consequently, these coupling portions 333 have adequate elasticity,enabling the valve body 21 in the valve material 20 to reciprocatesmoothly between the closed position and the open position.

Additionally, it is preferred that a thickness of these couplingportions 333 is 1 mm or less; a thickness within the range of 0.3 mm to0.5 mm is more preferably. Additionally, a relation between a pressureapplied to the fluid inside the fluid storing portion 142 and adischarge amount of the fluid can be adjusted by changing a thickness, avertical length or a material (hardness) of these coupling portions 333.Or, the relation between a pressure applied to the fluid inside thefluid storing portion 142 and a discharge amount of the fluid also canbe adjusted by changing an elastic force by the coupling portions 333 bychanging a thickness or a width of the edge portion on the supportingportion 11 side of the coupling portions 333. Further, the relationbetween a pressure applied to the fluid inside the fluid storing portion142 and a travel distance of the valve body 21, and a discharge amountof the fluid can be adjusted by changing a thickness of the valve body21.

FIG. 24 is a lateral view of an embodiment in which a groove portion 26is provided on the circumferential portion of the end surface of thevalve body 211 in the valve material 20 which comprises the valvemechanism 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 25 is a lateralview of an embodiment in which an O-ring 27 is combined with the valvematerial 20 shown in FIG. 24. As shown in FIG. 24, because the endsurface 25 of the valve body 21 in the valve material 20 contacts thevertical surface 335 in the supporting body 340 at two places, higherliquid tightness can be achieved. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 25, bythe elasticity of the O-ring 27 which is combined with the end surface25 of the valve body 21 in the valve material 20, the valve body 21 andthe inner walls of the valve seat material 330 can be contacted reliablyeven when manufacturing accuracy of each part of the valve mechanism 10has deteriorated, and higher liquid tightness can be maintained ascompared with plane contact.

According to the invention described in the ninth aspect, because thevalve material possesses a valve material having a valve body, anengaging portion set up by standing it in the valve body and a guideportion set up by standing it on the side opposite to the engagingportion in the valve body, a valve seat material possessing a valve seatportion which has a circular opening portion functioning as a valve seatfor the valve body, a valve material supporting portion which engageswith the engaging portion and multiple coupling portions havingflexibility which couple the valve seat portion and the valve materialsupporting portion, and a supporting body possessing an opening portionfor discharging a fluid and a guide material guiding the guide portion,it becomes possible to prevent occurrence of an inappropriate tilt inthe valve body when the valve body moves between the closed position inwhich the valve body closes the opening portion in the valve seatmaterial and the open position in which the valve body opens the openingportion. Consequently, flowing out of the fluid can be preventedreliably.

According to the invention described in the tenth aspect, because in thevalve mechanism described in Claim 1, the guide material comprisesmultiple ribs contacting the outer circumferential surface of the guideportion, it becomes possible to prevent occurrence of an inappropriatetilt in the valve body while having a simple construction, when thevalve body moves between the closed position in which the valve bodycloses the opening portion in the valve seat material and the openposition in which the valve body opens the opening portion.

According to the invention described in the eleventh aspect, because inthe valve mechanism described in the ninth or tenth aspect, the valveseat portion contacts the under surface and the end surface of the valvebody in a position in which the valve material is positioned in theclosed position, the valve mechanism does not let the fluid pass throughas long as the end surface of the valve body contacts the verticalsurface of the valve seat portion. Consequently, unless a pressure abovea certain level is applied to the fluid storing portion, it becomespossible to prevent fluid leakage from the opening portion.

According to the invention described in the twelfth aspect, because inthe valve mechanism described in the ninth to eleventh aspects, thevalve seat material has three or more coupling portions, it becomespossible to prevent occurrence of an inappropriate tilt in the valvebody.

According to the invention described in the thirteenth aspect, becausein the valve mechanism described in the ninth to twelfth aspects, thecoupling portions have flexions, the coupling portions have adequateelasticity, enabling the valve body in the valve material to reciprocatebetween the closed position and the open position smoothly.

FIG. 26 is a front view of the tube-type fluid container according toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 27 is its longitudinalsection.

This tube-type container is used as a container for beauty products forstoring gels such as hair gels and cleansing gels or creams such asnourishing creams and cold creams used in the cosmetic field.Additionally, this tube-type container also can be used as a containerfor medicines, solvents or foods, etc.

In this specification, high-viscosity liquids, semifluids, gels that solsolidifies to a jelly, and creams, and regular liquids, are all referredto as fluids.

This tube-type container possesses a container main unit 140, a lidmaterial 110 which is placed at the top of the container main unit 140,and a valve mechanism 10.

The container main unit 140 possesses a discharge port 441 fordischarging a fluid, which is formed at one end of the container mainunit, a flange portion 150 (See FIG. 35 and FIG. 36) formed in thevicinity of the upper end of the discharge port 441, and a male screwportion 151 formed outside the discharge port 441. The above-mentionedflange portion can engage with an engaging groove 35 in a couplingmaterial 30 in the valve mechanism 10 which is described later in detailby referring to FIG. 35 and FIG. 36. Consequently, the valve mechanism10 is constructed to be fixed inside the discharge port 441 in thecontainer main unit 140 through this engaging groove 35.

The lid material 110 possesses a lid body 111 and a female screw portion415 formed at the center of the lid body 111. The female screw portion415 in the lid body 111 is constructed to screw together with the malescrew portion 151 in the container main unit 140.

In the tube-type container having the above-mentioned construction, whena fluid is discharged from the container, a pressure is applied to thefluid inside the container main unit 140. In this position, the valvemechanism 10 comprising a valve material 20, a coupling material 30 anda valve seat material is opened and the fluid inside the container mainunit 140 is discharged outward via an opening portion 41 in the valvemechanism 10. After a necessary amount of the fluid is discharged andwhen the pressure applied to the fluid storing portion 442 is removed,the fluid inside the fluid storing portion 442 is depressurized by theelasticity recovering force of the container main unit 140 and the airtries to flow back toward the container main unit 140 from the dischargeport 441 used for discharging the fluid.

In this tube-type container, however, by the action of the valvemechanism comprising the valve material 20, the coupling material 30 andthe valve seating material 40, a path in which the fluid passes throughis closed. Consequently, reverse air flow can be effectively prevented.

A construction of the valve mechanism 10 which is applied to thetube-type fluid container according to Embodiment 4 of the presentinvention is described below. FIG. 35 and FIG. 36 show enlarged views ofthe valve mechanism 10 along with the top of the container main unit140.

This valve mechanism 10 comprises a valve material 20, a couplingmaterial 30 and a valve seat material 40.

The explanation regarding FIGS. 10-15 as mentioned above is applied toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention.

A construction of the container main unit 140 of the tube-type fluidcontainer according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention isdescribed below. FIG. 28 is a lateral section showing a position beforea pressure is applied to the tube-type fluid container according toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention, from which the lid material 110is omitted. FIG. 29 is a lateral section showing a position when apressure is applied to the tube-type fluid container according toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention, from which the lid material 110is omitted. FIG. 30 is a lateral section showing a position when a shapeof the external container 443 in the tube-type fluid container accordingto Embodiment 4 of the present invention is restored, from which the lidmaterial 110 is omitted.

The container main unit 140 possesses an internal container 442 storinga fluid and an external container 443 encompassing the internalcontainer 442. An internal space 444 which is shut off from the outsideis formed between the internal container 442 and the external container443.

The external container 443 in this container main unit 140 has aconstruction comprising synthetic resin alone or a lamination ofsynthetic resin and aluminum, and has an elasticity recovering forcewhich tries to recover its original shape when a pressure applied to itis removed. Further, in the external container 443, a hole 149 whichcommunicates with the interior space and the outside is formed. Thishole 149 formed in the external container has a size which can let asmall amount of air through.

When a pressure is applied to the container main unit 140 from theposition shown in FIG. 28, in which the pressure is not applied, asshown in FIG. 29, the volume of the external container 443 reduces asthe volume of the internal container 442 reduces by outflow of the fluidinside the internal container 442. At this time, by the elasticityrecovering force of the external container 443, inside the internalspace 444 which is shut off from the outside is depressurized.Consequently, as shown in FIG. 30, an amount of the air corresponding tothe reduced volume of the external container 443 flows into the internalspace 444 from the hole formed in the external container 443, whichcommunicates with the internal space 444 and the outside, restoring theexternal container 443 to its original shape before the pressure hasbeen applied.

Because this hole 149 has a size which can let a slight amount of theair through, an outflow of the air from the internal space 444 to theoutside can be controlled to be small. Consequently, it becomes possibleto apply a right pressure to the fluid inside the internal container442.

The internal container 442 and the external container 443 are bothformed/shaped by blow molding, and then an opening portion 145 of theinternal container and an opening portion 146 of the external containerare connected each other at the welding portion 148 on the dischargeport side of the container main unit 140 and are welded at a weldingportion 147 on the bottom side. Consequently, it becomes possible tomanufacture tube-type fluid containers at low costs.

The tube-type fluid container according to Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention is described below. FIG. 31 is a front view of the tube-typefluid container according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. FIG.32 is a lateral section showing the tube-type fluid container accordingto Embodiment 5 of the present invention, from which the lid material110 is omitted. FIG. 33 is a lateral section showing a position when apressure is applied to the tube-type fluid container according toEmbodiment 5 of the present invention, from which the lid material 110is omitted. FIG. 34 is a lateral section showing a position when a shapeof the external container 443 in the tube-type fluid container accordingto Embodiment 4 of the present invention is restored, from which the lidmaterial 110 is omitted. Additionally, a longitudinal section of thetube-type fluid container according to Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention is the same as the longitudinal section of the tube-type fluidcontainer according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

This tube-type fluid container, in the same way as that according toEmbodiment 4, possesses an internal container 442 storing a fluid and anexternal container 443 encompassing the internal container 442. Aninternal space 444 which is shut off from the outside is formed betweenthe internal container 442 and the external container 443; in theexternal container 443, a hole 149 which communicates with the interiorspace and the outside is formed.

The hole 149 formed in the external container 443 at a pressing portionin the external container 443, to which a pressure is applied when afluid is pushed out. With this construction, when the external container443 in the container main unit 140 is pressed, a good part of the hole149 is blocked off, for example, by a pressing object such as a finger;an outflow of the air to the outside from the internal space can becontrolled to be small; it becomes possible to apply a right pressure tothe fluid inside the internal container 442.

Because a size of the hole 149 should be within the range not exceedinga size of the pressing object, a large amount of the air enters theinternal space when the pressing object separates from the pressingportion. By this, the external container 443 can quickly restore itsoriginal shape.

Additionally, the valve mechanism applied to the tube-type fluidcontainer according to the present invention is not limited to the valvemechanisms 10 according to respective embodiments described above, butcan be applied to any valve mechanisms in which an opening portion isopened when the container main unit 140 is pressed and the openingportion is closed when a pressure applied to the container main unit 140is removed.

Additionally, for the external container 443, a material with anelasticity recovering force needs to be used. For the internal container442, a material without an elasticity recovering force can be used.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a construction in which the openingportions of the internal container 145 and of the external container 146are connected each other at a welding portion 148 on the discharge portportion side of the container main unit, and the internal container andthe external container are welded at their bottoms is adopted. Adifferent construction, in which the container main unit 140 comprisingthree parts, a discharge port material having the male screw portion151, the internal container 442 and the external container 443, and theopening portions of the internal container 145 and of the externalcontainer 146 are respectively welded to the discharge port material,can also be adopted.

According to the invention described in the fourteenth aspect, becausethe valve mechanism is provided at the discharge port; with the internalcontainer storing a fluid and the external container comprising amaterial having an elasticity recovering force, which encompasses theinternal container in such a way that an interior space shut off fromthe outside is formed between the external container and internalcontainer, and in which a hole communicating with the interior space andthe outside is formed, despite its simple construction, reverse flow ofair from the discharge port of the container into the container can beprevented and the content can be discharged easily even when an amountof the content is reduced.

According to the invention described in the fifteenth aspect, becausethe hole formed in the external container has a size which can let asmall amount of air through, an amount of air outflow from the internalcontainer to the outside can be controlled to be small when thecontainer main unit is pressed, enabling to apply a right pressure tothe fluid inside the internal container.

According to the invention described in the sixteenth aspect, becausethe hole formed in the external container is formed in a portion towhich a pressure is applied when the fluid is discharged, an amount ofair outflow from the internal container to the outside can be controlledto be small when the container main unit is pressed, enabling to apply aright pressure to the fluid inside the internal container.

According to the invention described in the seventeenth aspect, becausethe opening portions of the internal container and of the externalcontainer are connected each other at the discharge port portion of thecontainer main unit, and the internal container and the externalcontainer are welded at their bottoms, manufacturing a tube-type fluidcontainer at low costs becomes possible.

FIG. 37(A) is a bottom view of the valve material 20′ according to analternative embodiment of the present invention. The valve material 20′has three convex portions 24 facing toward the opening, which is formedin a portion in the valve body 21′. The convex portions 24 contact thevalve seat material when the valve body 21′ closes the opening. FIG.37(B) is a longitudinal section showing the A″-A″ section in FIG. 37(A).

FIG. 38(A) is a plan view of the valve seat material 330′ constitutingthe valve mechanism 10 according to an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 38(B) is a longitudinal section showing the D-Dsection in FIG. 38(A). The valve seat material 330′ has a reinforcingring 327 which surrounds the coupling material 30. The reinforcing ring327 can prevent deformation or damage by an extrusion molding. In FIG.38 (B), portions shown by diagonal lines may be constituted of one part,or different parts.

FIGS. 39(A) is a longitudinal section of the tube-type fluid containerwhich disposes the valve material 20′ shown in FIG. 37(B) and the valveseat material 330′ shown in FIG. 38(B). FIG. 39(A) shows that the valvematerial 20′ moves upward to open an opening and a fluid flows throughthe opening. FIG. 39(B) shows that the valve material 20′ moves downwardto close the opening, thereby preventing the fluid from flowing throughthe opening.

FIG. 40(A) is a longitudinal section of a cap-type valve mechanism 10′comprising a valve material 20, a coupling material 30, and a valve seatmaterial 40. FIG. 40 (A) shows that the valve material 20 moves downwardto close an opening, thereby preventing a fluid from flowing through theopening. FIG. 40(B) shows that the valve material 20 moves upward toopen the opening and the fluid flows through the opening.

In the present invention, any suitable plastic material can be usedincluding rubbers such as silicon rubbers or soft resins such as softpolyethylene. For support portions (such as the valve seat portion) towhich other portions (such as the valve portion) are fitted bypress-fitting, hard resins such as hard polyethylene can preferably beused. The structures can be formed by any suitable methods includinginjection molding. The resin material can be selected based on the typeof fluid stored in the container. If a high viscose fluid such as a gelis stored in the container, a hard resin may be used for the valvemechanism. If a low viscose fluid such as a thin liquid or a formedliquid is stored in the container, a more resilient resin may be usedfor the valve mechanism.

This application claims priority to Japanese patent application Nos.2002-218330, 2002-330153, 354048 and 2003-28589, filed Jul. 26, 2002,Nov. 14, 2002, Dec. 5, 2002 and Feb. 5, 2003, respectively, thedisclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that numerous andvarious modifications can be made without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood thatthe forms of the present invention are illustrative only and are notintended to limit the scope of the present invention.

1. A valve mechanism adapted for a fluid-discharging port of a tube-typefluid container, comprising: a valve seat portion having a valve seatsurface with an opening for passing a fluid therethrough; a valveportion comprising a valve body having a shape corresponding to thevalve seat surface with the opening, and a shaft connected to said valvebody and extending downward from the valve body, wherein an annularconvex portion is formed between the valve seat surface and the valvebody on the valve seat surface or the valve body for closing the openingwith the valve body at the annular convex portion; and a valve supportportion for elastically urging the valve body downward to close theopening.
 2. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidvalve support comprises: (i) a bottom plate to which a tip of the shaftis connected; (ii) an annular support fixedly connected to the valveseat portion; and (iii) multiple connectors connecting the bottom plateand the annular support, said connectors elastically urging the bottomplate downward to close the opening with the valve body and beingbendable as the bottom plate moves upward and pushes the valve portionto open the opening.
 3. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 1,wherein said multiple connectors are composed of three or moreconnectors.
 4. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidmultiple connectors have flexions.
 5. The valve mechanism as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the convex portion facing toward said valve body isformed on the valve seat surface, which convex portion contacts thevalve body when the valve body closes the opening.
 6. The valvemechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the convex portion facingtoward said valve seat surface is formed on the valve body, which convexportion contacts the valve seat surface when the valve body closes theopening.
 7. A tube-type fluid container comprising a tubular containermain unit, at one end of which a fluid-discharging port is formed, andthe valve mechanism as claimed in claim
 1. 8. The tube-type fluidcontainer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said multiple connectors arecomposed of three or more connectors.
 9. The tube-type fluid containeras claimed in claim 7, wherein said multiple connectors have flexions.10. The tube-type fluid container as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidcontainer main unit comprises (A) an internal container storing a fluid,and (B) an external container which is composed of a material having anelasticity recovering force and encompasses said internal container insuch a way that an interior space shut off from the outside is formedbetween said external container and said internal container, and inwhich a hole communicating with said interior space and the outside isformed.
 11. The tube-type fluid container as claimed in claim 10,wherein said hole formed in said external container has a size which canlet a small amount of air through.
 12. The tube-type fluid container asclaimed in claim 10, wherein said hole formed in said external containeris formed in a portion to which a pressure is applied when the fluid isdischarged.
 13. The tube-type fluid container as claimed in claim 10,wherein opening portions of said internal container and of said externalcontainer are connected to each other at said fluid-discharging port,and said internal container and said external container are welded attheir bottoms.
 14. A valve comprising: a seat having an opening throughwhich a fluid may flow; a seal comprising a body having a shapecorresponding to said opening; and a support for coupling said seal tosaid seat, the support comprising multiple elastically deformableconnectors, said connectors producing a biasing force that causes theseal to substantially close the opening; wherein the connectors areadapted to elastically deform in response to a fluid pressure on saidseal that overcomes the biasing force so as to permit the flow of fluidthrough the opening, wherein the opening comprises a first ledge, theseal comprises a second ledge, the second ledge sits on the first ledgewhen the opening is closed by the biasing force, wherein at least one ofthe first ledge and the second ledge comprises at least one tab.